Its free and part of Seth Godin's new project to revolutionize the publishing industry. It helped me get a lot more focused on taking action on your ideas when they're new.
I think the best alternative to the system we currently have is more governments that are more favorably regulated for small businesses. Make it easier for more people to start businesses and get rich. They'll employ those who don't want to start businesses. Innovation will accelerate (like it isn't already going a million miles per hour :), basic survival needs will get cheaper and more widely distributed even for those third world countries. The faster the innovation the faster the important inequities disappear. At a certain point income gaps won't matter to us because everyone's survival AND comfort needs/wants will be taken care of. We're already seeing than in advanced countries where the poorest either aren't really that bad off or they're deliberately poor.
We're right at the beginning of an era where very high quality education is very cheap. I watch lectures from the best professors in the world on almost any subject while I'm in my PJ's at 3am. I started a profitable internet business from my home based on what I learned on the internet. This cheap, actionable education is a great equalizer. (It's only a matter of years before the first free, accredited online school is available.) For anyone with a little bit of drive and an internet connection there is no reason they shouldn't be able to make enough to cover basic needs.
Random:People in Africa living off of a grid are charging their cell phones with solar chargers and then getting paid via that cell phone. That's awesome.
Mankind has clearly shown it is most amenable to equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome. When we strive for equality of opportunity we are less inclined to blame our circumstances, because we have control of them. It also works very well for our fickle natures. Equality of outcome, while it sounds happy and full of rainbows and we have jobs perfectly suited to our interests, is oppressive and destroys the soul.
Apr 12 2011: I'm all for protecting the environment but Ive got a big carbon footprint... whatever. Currently our robust use of fossil fuels is enabling us to focus on the development of technology that will get us off of fossil fuels. Im confident we'll get there before world becomes a desert...
I dont see her as hypocritical.
Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we'll have solar power.
Apr 6 2011: Ok after reading the first 20 comments or so I had to chime in... so maybe someone else has said this.
I make a living by advertising products for businesses. A good living. Its worth it. But Its not worth it if you're stupid.
with the technology available today you can measure and track the success of your advertising. TV radio and print ads are dying and everything is moving online for this very reason.
Millions have been made by individuals running ad campaigns from their basement.
TEDCred score: +0.10 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.
A comment on Conversation: How do we overcome the tendency to slip back into the old routine of life - and truly capture and ACT on the lessons in talks like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Do-the-Work-ebook/dp/B004PGO25O
Its free and part of Seth Godin's new project to revolutionize the publishing industry. It helped me get a lot more focused on taking action on your ideas when they're new.
A comment on Conversation: What about doing away with politicians and voting online for all issues?
Make your ideas more easily digestible for us ADD sufferers by using paragraphs PLEASE... :)
A comment on Conversation: What would society be like if we implemented maximum income laws?
I think the best alternative to the system we currently have is more governments that are more favorably regulated for small businesses. Make it easier for more people to start businesses and get rich. They'll employ those who don't want to start businesses. Innovation will accelerate (like it isn't already going a million miles per hour :), basic survival needs will get cheaper and more widely distributed even for those third world countries. The faster the innovation the faster the important inequities disappear. At a certain point income gaps won't matter to us because everyone's survival AND comfort needs/wants will be taken care of. We're already seeing than in advanced countries where the poorest either aren't really that bad off or they're deliberately poor.
We're right at the beginning of an era where very high quality education is very cheap. I watch lectures from the best professors in the world on almost any subject while I'm in my PJ's at 3am. I started a profitable internet business from my home based on what I learned on the internet. This cheap, actionable education is a great equalizer. (It's only a matter of years before the first free, accredited online school is available.) For anyone with a little bit of drive and an internet connection there is no reason they shouldn't be able to make enough to cover basic needs.
Random:People in Africa living off of a grid are charging their cell phones with solar chargers and then getting paid via that cell phone. That's awesome.
Mankind has clearly shown it is most amenable to equality of opportunity rather than equality of outcome. When we strive for equality of opportunity we are less inclined to blame our circumstances, because we have control of them. It also works very well for our fickle natures. Equality of outcome, while it sounds happy and full of rainbows and we have jobs perfectly suited to our interests, is oppressive and destroys the soul.
A reply on Talk: Rachel Sussman: The world's oldest living things
I dont see her as hypocritical.
Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we'll have solar power.
A comment on Conversation: Advertising.......is it still worth the money ?
I make a living by advertising products for businesses. A good living. Its worth it. But Its not worth it if you're stupid.
with the technology available today you can measure and track the success of your advertising. TV radio and print ads are dying and everything is moving online for this very reason.
Millions have been made by individuals running ad campaigns from their basement.